The confluence of a lack of progress on annual appropriations and a political battle over federal funding for women’s health organization Planned Parenthood is threatening to shut the government down after September 30 for the second time in two years.

Legislation introduced last week by Maryland Senator Ben Cardin and ten Senate Democrats, the Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2015 (S. 2035) requires that all federal workers furloughed as a result of any lapse in appropriations that may begin as soon as October 1st will receive their pay retroactively as soon as is practicable.

“Our bill is the right thing to do and the fair thing to do. Federal workers are dedicated public servants who simply want to do their jobs on behalf of the American people. They shouldn’t suffer because of extreme partisan gamesmanship,” said Senator Cardin. “Our tasks here in Congress are simple – not easy, perhaps, but simple: we need to keep the government open for business across the country and keep federal workers on the job.”

Decisions about whether and how the government will be funded after September 30 are being handled at the leadership levels of the House, Senate, and White House.